Eyelet.



w. s. ELLIOT.

, EYELET.

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT-2L 1913. v

' Patented June 27, 1916.

VV/T/VESS'ES'.

WILLIAM S. ELLIOT, OF FLORENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED FAST COLOR EYELET COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A GORTEORATION OF MAINE.

EYELET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 27, 1916.

Application filed September 27, 1913. Serial N 0. 792,139.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM S. ELLIOT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Florence, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Eyelets, of which the following description, in connection w1th the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to eyelets of that type which comprises a metallic blank provided on its flange with a covering of celluloid or other pyroxylin coating.

The object of the invention is to improve the general character and wearing qualities of such articles and at the same time to provide an eyelet of this type which may be constructed at lower cost than heretofore.

An important feature of the novel eyelet of my invention consists in a metallic blank having a substantially flat flange whlch, during the operation of applying the coating, may be rigidly supported against bending nearly out to its periphery. It is necessary to subject the blank to a high pressure in molding the celluloid covering upon it and heretofore it-has been necessary to utilize a comparatively stiff metal such as steel or hard brass to withstand this pressure without deformation. The eyelet of the present invention, however, may be constructed with a blank of, a softer, non-corrosive metal such as zinc or aluminum.

Eyelets having this characteristic may be used in white goods or other material where the discoloration frequently caused by other metals has been objectionable heretofore.

Another feature of the invention consists in an eyelet having a celluloid covering so applied that the metallic blank extends close to its surface near the outer portion of the flange. In an eyelet of this construction the eiiect of the metal just beneath the celluloid is to harden and render more dense the covering thus producing 'an eyelet of great durability and one having a superior finish. As herein shown the celluloid covering is molded over and beneath the periphery of the flange and stopped at a distance from the eyelet barrel. In this way a secure anchorage for the covering is formed at the precise point where it is most effective; viz., at its extreme outer edge. Further, an annular recess is produced in the under side of the eyelet flange into which may protrude some of the material in which the eyelet is set and on this account a firmer and closer setting of the eyelet is secured. The saving of celluloid which results from this construction constitutes another and very important advantage resulting from this feature of the invention.

Still'another feature of the invention consists in molding the celluloid covering so that its greatest thickness will be disposed adjacent to the lacing passage where it is subjected to the greatest wear. In this connection it is important that no part of the celluloid covering shall extend into the eyelet barrel or project within the surface of the barrel produced as otherwise the covering is likely to be loosened by the setting tools when the eyelet is clenched in the work.

As a result of the novel features hereinabove enumerated, it is believed that an eyelet of'the celluloid covered type may be produced in which is employed a metallic blank of lower cost and more desirable features and a celluloid covering of less thickness than has been possible heretofore.

The accompanying. drawings illustrate an eyelet constructed in accordance with my in vention and a pair of dies for applying the covering. The dies and the method of using them are not claimed herein as they form the subject-matter of my co-pending application Serial No. 877,982 filed December 18, 19 4.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1S a view in perspective of an eyelet in inverted position; Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of the same eyelet; Figs. 3 and 4: are sectional views showing two steps in the process of covering an eyelet.

As shown in Fig. 2, the metallic blank 10 is shaped with a relatively wide and flat flange 12 projecting outwardly and at substantially right angles to the axis of the barrel. The blank is preferably constructed of a non-corrosive metal such as zinc or zinc alloy but anydesired metal may be employed. Those mentioned may be utilized at a lower cost than the metal blanks formerly used for this class of eyelet. The celluloid covering 14 is molded upon the flange 12. At its inner edge it extends tangent to or flush with the inner surface of the barrel of the blank, no portion pro- 119 jecting where it might be encountered by a setting tool. At its outer edge it is molded over and beneath the edge of the metal flange and is firmly anchored to the blank. The metal flange extends into proximity to the surface of the celluloid covering as shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 3 a metal blank 10 is shown as received in a female die 20. The die is provided with an annular shoulder 22 which is shaped to engage beneath the eyelet flange and support it rigidly nearly out to its periphery. In practice the overhang of the flange beyond the shoulder is made between .015 and .020 of an inch. It will be apparent that very little stiffness in the metal blank itself is required to resist a com siderable pressure on a small portion of flange so located. The male die 30 has a projecting spindle 32 reduced in diameter at its outer end but at its base having a diameter equal to that of the diameter of the inside of the eyelet barrel at its upper end. The die 30 also has a flange 8% in which is formed a surface which molds the face of the eyelet flange.

In covering the flange of the metal blank a sheet of celluloid 4C0 having a hole of substantially the same diameter as the reduced portion of the spindle 32 is threaded upon this spindle and the dies are then heated and forced together until they occupy the position shown in Fig. 4. During their relative movement the hole in the celluloicl is enlarged and the material caused to flow outwardly to form a covering of the shape shown in Figs. 2 and a. The spindle 32 comes into intimate contact with the inner surface of the eyelet barrel and so prevents any of the celluloid from pass ing into it. At the outer edge of the flange the celluloid is forced into the recess formed by the under surface of the metal flange 12 where it overhangs the shoulder 22 of the female die. In this process the celluloid sheet is substantially reduced in thickness at all points except where the mate rial is required for the covering. At these points the full thickness of the celluloid is maintained or even increased by the dis placement of celluloid underthe pressure Copies of this patent may be obtained for of the dies. By the method above outlined it is possible to utilize sheet celluloid of a thickness of 0.008 or 0.006 inches or even 0.005 of an inch. This is believed to be considerably below the limit of thickness heretofore considered practical.

The eyelet is completed by being sheared out from the sheet of celluloid, or in some cases, the dies may be so formed as to sever the completed eyelet during the molding operation. The manner in which this step is carried out does not affect the character of the eyelet.

While celluloid or other pyroxylin material has been designated as the covering for the flange it will be understood that any desired wear-resisting material of plastic characteristics could be equally well utilized.

Having thus described an eyelet of my invention and disclosed the method of its construction, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An eyelet comprising a metallic blank having a substantially flat flange, and a plastic coating molded upon and continuously surrounding said flange and extending beneath its periphery, said coating forming a smooth annular shoulder beneath the flange spaced at a distance from the outer surface of the eyelet barrel.

2. An eyelet comprising a soft metal blank having a substantially flat flange, and a plas tic coating molded upon and continuously surrounding said flange and extending beneath its outer edge, said coating having on its lower side an inwardly disposed face at substantially right angles to the flange,

located concentricallv with respect to the eyelet barrel and having an open space between itself and the outer surface of the barrel. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM s. nLnior.

- \Vitnesses:

FRANKLIN R. JOHNSON, GEO. F. LIBERTY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

